Navy, Coast Guard have sub-zero freezers for COVID-19 vaccines

The Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard have freezers that can store coronavirus vaccines in sub-zero temperatures, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday.

In President Rodrigo Duterte’s weekly national address, Lorenzana said the Navy and Coast Guard could store vaccines in freezers with temperatures ranging from -15 to -25 degrees celsius.

The Navy has four freezers with a temperature range of -15 to -18 degrees celsius and a total capacity of five tons.

“Puwede po nating gamitin ito pag magta-transport ng bakuna mula Manila saka mga islands dito sa Visayas at saka dito pa sa Luzon siguro,” Lorenzana said.

“‘Yung Philippine Coast Guard naman ay meron silang siyam na barko na ang temperature range ng kanilang mga freezer ay -20 to -25 degrees. So this is ideal to transport also. Ang capacity [in] total is about 526 cubic feet,” he added.

Lorenzana also said military medical personnel will undergo training in preparation for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Tinanggap namin ‘yung alok ng GoNegosyo ni Joey Concepcion na bigyan ng pagsasanay o training ang military medical personnel para sila ang kasama sa pagbabakuna sa ating mga tao, lalong lalo na sa mga probinsya,” he said.

The training is set to begin next week.

The Philippines is expected to launch its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in February.

The country has logged 514,996 infections as of Monday afternoon. -NB, GMA News